Portrait of Sonia

Flladi Kulla · 12-17-2008, 04:03 PM

Hi everyone,
I am posting the image of one of my latest portraits. I wouldn't consider it finished and as I am trying to be done with it, the more difficult it becomes. It's a portrait of my wonderful wife, and I would really really appreciate any comments from everyone!
It's oil on canvas, 22x28 inches.
Thank you very much for your time

Richard Monro · 12-17-2008, 05:51 PM

Filadi,

This is a wonderful piece. I like the unusual pose and the expression in her face. My only critique would be to gray the yellow in the background as I find the chroma too intense and distracting. Other than that I find this painting to be enchanting.

Alexandra Tyng · 12-17-2008, 07:08 PM

Filadi,

I also think the portrait is wonderful. Totally captivating.

About the background, I agree with Richard that greying the yellow would help push it back and also create an impression of air or space behind her. What was your shadow color? You could mix the cool shadow color with yellow-orange to grey the background just a little.

Conversely, I find the shadows in the figure too dense and dark, and I think it would help to mix some yellow-orange into the shadows and lighten the value slightly. This would relate the shadows to the background as well as decreasing their solidity.

Carol Norton · 12-17-2008, 07:26 PM

Your portrait literally BREATHES. She is beautiful. The pose and expression are wonderful. Alexandra and Richard made great technical suggestions that will make a wonderful painting even more spectacular.

Claudemir Bonfim · 12-17-2008, 08:15 PM

You're getting better and better.

In the introductions section you mentioned how you like intense colors. I agree with the suggestions you received, these guys in the forum are great, but even if you don't change anything it still looks good. It reminds me of Frans Hals, with intense colors of course.

Keep on doing this good job.

Marvin Mattelson · 12-17-2008, 09:24 PM

Great job buddy! I don't think the problem is necessarily the intensity of the background but the value to the right of her head, which I think is too light. Secondly, the background color would have more influence over the shadows via reflected light. In the future you should set up the background colors you want to have in your painting when you take your reference photos.

Maryam Foroozanfar · 01-03-2009, 07:30 AM

Hi Flladi,

I fully agree with Marvin's comments about toning down the brightness to the right of her head a bit and gently pulling some bg color into the reflected lights. Other than that - I wouldn't touch a thing. Your choice of colors, the expression on her face and your painterly style reminds me very much of Frans Hals whose work I greatly admire.

Happy New Year,
Maryam

Flladi Kulla · 01-05-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maryam Foroozanfar

Hi Flladi,

I fully agree with Marvin's comments about toning down the brightness to the right of her head a bit and gently pulling some bg color into the reflected lights. Other than that - I wouldn't touch a thing. Your choice of colors, the expression on her face and your painterly style reminds me very much of Frans Hals whose work I greatly admire.

Happy New Year,
Maryam

Maryam,
I really appreciate your input!
I agree as well with what you pointed out. Marvin is correct again (after all he is my teacher). I am working on those specific areas and should be ready (hopefully) soon!
Frans Hals! Wow! Thank you for even mentioning him here, and he is one of my favorites too.

Happy New Year!